My theory is that they couldn't resign both Justin Upton and Heyward. They have already committed to Freeman And BJ Upton and his contract are an unmovable boat anchor. Atlanta is trading what value they have and about the baton down the hatches. What is confusing is that half the fan base is pissed about the stadium's new location. Dumping a hometown favorite and putting a garbage product on the field for the next two years is going to result in a empty ballpark on Opening Day 2017.

Wren wrecked the Braves in the majors as well as the minors.

More than just a quick patch-up is needed, unfortunately.

Heyward has been an enigma in Atlanta. He knew it, which is why he wanted to go to FA. The greater fool is out there among the other teams, not Hart and the Braves as far as Heyward goes, and his agent knew it.

Will be interesting to see how he does without Hank Aaron constantly cheer-leading for him and covering for his flaws to the management. Aaron's an icon and was a tremendous player, but he is a flawed talent evaluator and his presence hurts the Braves front office when he influences them with his personal "picks." (For the record, Aaron was all-in on signing BJ Upton as well. Oy vey!) Hart seems more immune to him than most have been, which bodes well for the Braves in the long run.

Heyward's still young and Cards are a great organization, especially for hitters, so this is a great opportunity for him to turn it around if he ever does. Otherwise, he's probably just another Jermaine Dye-type player in the long run, which ain't bad, but not nearly MVP.

Braves need to go ahead and get rid of both Uptons if they can. Take the step back in order to go forward.

BTW--I laughed like hell when I read that Dan Uggla gets a WS ring and $13 million next year for not playing. Did he even get a hit during his cameo with the Giants? Must be nice.

I love the Braves, but that is almost as funny as David Bailiff getting continued extensions at Rice for being a losing coach against mediocre competition after 8 years.

(11-18-2014 06:19 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  BTW--I laughed like hell when I read that Dan Uggla gets a WS ring and $13 million next year for not playing. Did he even get a hit during his cameo with the Giants? Must be nice.

Pretty sure he did not get a hit. I swear the Giants are willing to give anyone a ring

Zach Duke LHP to the White Sox

Can someone explain why the Braves are meeting with Jon Lester?

(11-18-2014 12:49 PM)nbcards Wrote:  Zach Duke LHP to the White Sox

Good pickup. He had a really good season as a lefty specialist

DIdn't realize Duke signed for 3/15. He had a good year, but man what is Andrew Miller gonna get?

(11-18-2014 03:07 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  DIdn't realize Duke signed for 3/15. He had a good year, but man what is Andrew Miller gonna get?

4 years 40 mil?

(11-18-2014 12:53 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  Can someone explain why the Braves are meeting with Jon Lester?

This:

"The Braves will meet Thursday with free agent pitcher Jon Lester in Atlanta, which is only about 30 minutes from the ace left-hander’s offseason home.

That proximity and a mutual interest that the Braves and Lester have had for years are reasons the team will at least gauge the viability of a bid for Lester. This despite Braves president of baseball operations John Hart saying previously the team didn’t didn’t plan to pursue any of the top-tier free agent pitchers this offseason.

The Braves shaved about $11 million in payroll for 2015 with the trade Monday that sent outfielder Jason Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden to the Cardinals for starting pitcher Shelby Miller and pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins.

They still wouldn’t seem to have enough room in their payroll to add more than $20 million annually for another pitcher, but if Lester were willing to take slightly less to live at home all year, and/or the Braves worked out a backloaded deal coinciding with the move to their new ballpark in 2017 and the increased revenue streams they expect to come with that move, then perhaps Atlanta could become serious bidders for Lester and Thursday’s meeting might be more than just a courtesy or due diligence on the Braves’ part.

Miller will join the incumbent starting trio of Julio Teheran and lefties Alex Wood and Mike Minor to give the Braves a potentially formidable rotation. Lester in the other remaining spot would push it from formidable to one of baseball’s top-rated rotations."

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/...ter/nh9Xp/

Again, the Dan Uggla think makes me literally burst out in laughter every time, even when I'm the one writing it. Ahhhhhh......comedy.

sounds like Upton isn't long for the Braves either:
http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasy...l-be-moved

will the Braves score 3 runs a game next year???

(11-21-2014 12:43 PM)stever20 Wrote:  sounds like Upton isn't long for the Braves either:
http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasy...l-be-moved

will the Braves score 3 runs a game next year???

probably not. Yet they're mentioned as one of the frontrunners for Tomas. go figure

But I love the idea of trading your lame duck players when you feel there's very little chance of competing this year. That way they can't something more than a draft pick and can still bring those guys back should they choose to spend the money. It's what the Sox did with Lester. Granted they only got one year of Cespedes, but the intent was there

(10-31-2014 02:32 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I seriously doubt he'll get 20 million. David Wright is the highest paid 3b and he got 19 million. Do not think any 3b is getting that money even.... Maybe 5/75-80 or something like that.

Sox just offered 5/95

Here's a question for the community: Sandoval has been offered 5/90 by the Giants, 5/95 by the Sox and at least 5/95 by the Padres. So his market value is approximately $19 million per year. Over the last 3 years he's produced 7.9 WAR and Steamer projects him 3.6 this season. He's 28 years old.

Chase Headley is 30 years old and over the last 3 seasons has produced 15.2 WAR and Steamer projects him for3.8 this season. If Sandoval is worth 5/95, what should Headley get?

(11-13-2014 09:44 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(11-12-2014 04:06 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 05:04 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 12:17 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(11-10-2014 08:01 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  the braves will always be in the race for a postseason spot, but you can't help but wonder when they're going to field a team that can be more than that

At this point I think it is obvious that the Braves have a slightly above farm system that is only capable of doing just enough to be competitive and not much more.

what would you do about the impending free agencies of heyward and upton? and what do you think the braves will do?

The funny thing about justin upton is how similar (in terms of WAR) he is to Sandoval. Over the past 3 seasons the panda has produced 8.1 WAR and Upton has produced 8.2. Upton is one year younger and obviously a far safer body type for future production. Would you give him 6/110?

During the Frank wren era, the plan was for Freeman, Simmons and Heyward to be the faces of the Braves when they moved into their new digs. I don't have a bead on the new GM yet to understand how his direction will be and how in matches with Liberty Media's financial constraints.

He used to be with the Indians way back. His big MO was to get guys signed to long term deals when they were younger to avoid a situation like the Braves are going to have with Heyward.

(11-23-2014 02:19 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  Here's a question for the community: Sandoval has been offered 5/90 by the Giants, 5/95 by the Sox and at least 5/95 by the Padres. So his market value is approximately $19 million per year. Over the last 3 years he's produced 7.9 WAR and Steamer projects him 3.6 this season. He's 28 years old.

Chase Headley is 30 years old and over the last 3 seasons has produced 15.2 WAR and Steamer projects him for3.8 this season. If Sandoval is worth 5/95, what should Headley get?

Panda signs with the BoSox to create the biggest infield the the bigs.

(11-24-2014 08:35 AM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(11-13-2014 09:44 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(11-12-2014 04:06 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 05:04 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 12:17 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  At this point I think it is obvious that the Braves have a slightly above farm system that is only capable of doing just enough to be competitive and not much more.

what would you do about the impending free agencies of heyward and upton? and what do you think the braves will do?

The funny thing about justin upton is how similar (in terms of WAR) he is to Sandoval. Over the past 3 seasons the panda has produced 8.1 WAR and Upton has produced 8.2. Upton is one year younger and obviously a far safer body type for future production. Would you give him 6/110?

During the Frank wren era, the plan was for Freeman, Simmons and Heyward to be the faces of the Braves when they moved into their new digs. I don't have a bead on the new GM yet to understand how his direction will be and how in matches with Liberty Media's financial constraints.

He used to be with the Indians way back. His big MO was to get guys signed to long term deals when they were younger to avoid a situation like the Braves are going to have with Heyward.

(11-23-2014 02:19 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  Here's a question for the community: Sandoval has been offered 5/90 by the Giants, 5/95 by the Sox and at least 5/95 by the Padres. So his market value is approximately $19 million per year. Over the last 3 years he's produced 7.9 WAR and Steamer projects him 3.6 this season. He's 28 years old.

Chase Headley is 30 years old and over the last 3 seasons has produced 15.2 WAR and Steamer projects him for3.8 this season. If Sandoval is worth 5/95, what should Headley get?

Panda signs with the BoSox to create the biggest infield the the bigs.

From what I've seen I don't think it is a done deal yet. Seems like San Francisco is still in it for Panda.

Hopefully it's a done deal. Let the Sox have a not-great player for $100 million.

I think one thing that you aren't taking into account is how the money is just exploding. This past year there were 22 guys that got over 20 million. That number is growing every year considerably.

Also the question is will the Giants spend the money or just pocket it.

(11-24-2014 12:05 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I think one thing that you aren't taking into account is how the money is just exploding. This past year there were 22 guys that got over 20 million. That number is growing every year considerably.

Also the question is will the Giants spend the money or just pocket it.

I did take it into account. That's why I predicted panda would get what he was asking for. I think it's you who didn't take it into account

They'll spend it. They're kicking the tires on lester, Tomas and Moncada

Hanley Ramirez to Boston 4 yrs 88 million with a 5th year vesting option at 22 mil.

(11-24-2014 01:33 PM)nbcards Wrote:  Hanley Ramirez to Boston 4 yrs 88 million with a 5th year vesting option at 22 mil.

Sounds about right, considering he's better than sandoval. Although a large injury risk as well as the possibility of further degradation at SS. can't move him to 3B unless sandoval moves to DH which is a nightmare proposition